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Horses have been a huge part of man’s history. Their story has intermingled with ours for many thousands of years. Even now when it seems they are no longer a necessity people still yearn to be close to these magnificent creatures. We own them, riding for fun, but some want to make horses a more central part of our lives. To do this many turn to the organized sports where other enthusiasts congregate. Which sport is the best and will allow the most excitement and joy? That is up to each individual.
A good starting place to your own horse adventure is learning which sports are out there for you to participate in. Here they are given in alphabetical order with a brief description for each.
Barrel racing is a timed rodeo event. The horse and rider perform a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels. The rider with the shortest time wins. There is a five-second penalty for knocking over a barrel. This sport requires a very fast and agile horse that can change leads quickly as it runs low to the ground around the barrels.
Calf roping is also a rodeo event where the rider follows the calf out of a chute and ropes the calf around its head and one horn. He then jumps off as his horse pulls the rope tight. He catches the calf and ties any three legs with his pigging string, then he must run back to his horse. The calf is given six seconds to try to get free at which time the clock stops.
Carriage driving is when a horse or pony pulls a vehicle. These are judged shows where the horse(s), rider and any others on his team are given points for looks of the driver and staff, the horse, harness, vehicle and overall impression made. These events are also sometimes judged as they perform difficult maneuvers such as turning and backing into small spaces.
Cutting is the western sport of separating one cow from its herd. The horse and rider will go into a herd and the rider will let the horse know which cow and then the horse will take over. He gets low, eye to eye with the cow, and then chases the cow away from the herd staying with it as the cow jumps back and forth. The horse and rider are judged on how well they can do this.
Dressage is often referred to as ballet for horses. Many think it is the most difficult of the horse sports. Horse and rider are judged on how well they perform the intricate movements. The rider must tell the horse what to do using commands that no observer can tell are even given. These maneuvers range from changing leads, walking backward, “airs above ground” or a graceful rear, and pirouettes.
Endurance is just that, a measure of the fastest horse over a very long distance. These races can last up to three days and cover from fifty to one hundred and fifty miles. Along the way the horse has to stop and be checked by veterinarians to make sure they are taking it well and no drugs are being used. The first ten horses in place, and awards are given for the horse in the best condition.
Eventing is a combination of dressage, endurance and jumping. It usually takes place over three days. The first day the horses are judged on dressage, the next day is a long cross-country race and the third day is a jumping competition. Jumping is done the third day to assess how tired the horses are.
Fox hunting isn’t necessarily a competition. A group of riders take out hounds that catch the scent of a fox and chase it at full cry. The horses run behind over beautiful landscape and various terrain. The hunt is over when the hounds either lose the scent of the fox or else it is run into a burrow in the ground.
Halter showing is judged on the confirmation of the horse. The horse nearest to perfect confirmation for its breed will win. There are also halter shows that judge the relationship and handling of owner and horse.
Harness racing is a race involving many horses at the same time. The horses are attached to sulkies that a jockey sits on. He has to maneuver the horse around the others on a track. The one to make it to the finish line first wins.
Jumping is a timed event where the horse jumps over different types of jumps at varying heights. The horse must have good muscling to do this. Vision is also important as the horse has to take the correct number of strides to be in the right spot to leave the ground and propel themselves over the obstacle.
Polo is a sport unlike any of the others. It is a game where the rider uses a polo stick to hit a ball into a goal. The goal switches sides every other play. Handicaps are given to keep the game fair for those who are very new and those who are experienced. There are rules to protect the horses and penalties given by the umpires.
Pulling is a sport for the draft horses. In this competition the horse or team of horses that can pull the most weight wins. Sometimes the horses are required to perform a pattern while pulling heavy logs. They can’t hit anything or they are awarded penalties. Other competitions only require the horses to pull weight for one hundred yards to see who can pull the most.
Racing is a competitive sport and often considered one of the most dangerous. The jockeys guide the horses around the track, the fastest one wins. These horses are bred and trained for speed. Many careers start at age two and are over by age seven.
Steer wrestling is a timed rodeo event. A steer is let out of a chute followed by two riders, the wrestler and the hazer. The hazer keeps the horse running straight while Wrestler leans down from his horse and grabs the steers horns. He drops down and digs his heels in the ground stopping the steer.
Team penning is similar to steer wrestling and calf roping. The header and the heeler follow the calf out of the chute. The header ropes the calfs head and the heel comes behind to get both feet. The riders turn and face each other pulling the ropes taught then the clock is stopped.
Vaulting is gymnastics on horseback. This can be one or several riders at once. Riders are judged on their flips, somersaults, dismount and other maneuvers that they perform on the backs of the horse. These are all done as the horse, usually a large draft horse, is galloping around the arena.
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